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9 Great National Parks
Ask a local the best things about California, and somewhere at the top of the list would be the sheer beauty of the place. See for yourself at this dream list of incredible national parks, with clever tips and insider ideas on what to do at favourite ones like Yosemite and Death Valley, and some of the park system’s secret and newest gems.
Spotlight: Joshua Tree National Park
Boulders and buttresses, rugged mountains, gold mining ruins, desert plains dotted with the oddball trees, this is a weird place....
Spotlight: Yosemite National Park
Famous for its plunging waterfalls and massive granite faces, this unparalleled parkland, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984...
Redwood National Park
Even if you’re a pro basketball player, you can’t help feeling downright puny in this stunning preserve, where soaring redwoods line up like living skyscrapers. Start your trip at the excellent Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, one mile south of Orick. Of the five visitor centers in Redwood National and State Parks, this one is the largest, with numerous exhibits and a video on redwood ecology, a great bookstore, and access to a sandy beach. Next, do a little driving. Start 5 miles/8 kilometers north of the small hamlet of Klamath at the Klamath River Overlook, where the freshwater river meets the Pacific Ocean at a huge estuary. Perched 650 feet/198 meters above the sea, this overlook point is a prime spot for watching migrating gray whales (best time is December to April). Be sure to walk the short and easy path to the lower overlook for dramatic views of crashing surf. Then head south to cruise the Coastal Drive (great for mountain biking too). This 9-mile/13-km-long road follows the coastline, passing a radar station that was camouflaged to look like a farmhouse and barn during World War II.
Stop at the picnic area at High Bluff Overlook, then scan the sea for whales, sea lions, brown pelicans, and, in spring and summer, thousands of seabirds nesting on offshore rocks. If you want to put some miles on your hiking boots, the Klamath area features a lovely coastal walk, the Yurok Loop, which visits pristine Hidden Beach (1 mile/2 kilometers round-trip). Or, for an easy stroll beneath towering redwoods, walk the 1-mile/2-km Lady Bird Johnson Grove loop.
Spotlight: Death Valley National Park
The largest national park outside Alaska, Death Valley is an almost unfathomable place. The park’s 3.3 million acres encompass mountain-size sand...
Spotlight: Channel Islands National Park
Five islands off the Southern California coast comprise one of America’s most remote—and utterly magical—national parks. Visitors arrive on...
Spotlight: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Famous for their giant sequoias, soaring mountains, deep canyons and roaring rivers, this tandem set of parks have plenty to see, even...
Spotlight: Pinnacles National Park
California’s newest national park is home to cliffs, crags and cave formations that were formed by an ancient volcano. Shaking and quaking along...
Spotlight: Lassen Volcanic National Park
Steaming sulphur vents, splattering mud pots, boiling springs—these lively features show that the earth is not quiet in this fascinating park in...
Point Reyes National Seashore
Jutting dramatically out into the blue Pacific, the over 70,000 acre/28,732 hectare Point Reyes National Seashore almost seems to break away from the Northern California coast. The coastal preserve, some 30 miles/48 kilometres north of San Francisco, protects more than 1,500 animal and plant species and 80 miles/130 kilometres of shoreline. Here, breakers pound remote beaches, wisps of fog wash over coastal hills, and tule elk roam in wild meadows.
The park’s main visitor centre at Bear Valley is a great place to start exploring, and children love its interactive displays. Get updates on whale watching (typically January to mid April), wild flower displays (best in early to late spring) and trail conditions. For wildlife watching, head to Tomales Point to see the tule elk, especially during the autumn rutting season. Then move on to 200 acre/81 hectare Abbotts Lagoon to view rich bird life. More than 45 percent of North America’s bird species have been spotted at Point Reyes. For beach walks, try dog friendly Kehoe Beach, 11 mile/18 kilometre long Great Beach, or intimate McClures Beach. For a worth it workout, take the 308 steps down, and then up, to the 1870s era Point Reyes Lighthouse.
Insider tip: Want to sleep in the wilderness? Make a reservation to pitch a tent at one of four back-country camps, two of them along the 17 mile/27 km Coast Trail. Campsites at Wildcat Beach, within earshot of breakers, are particularly unforgettable.